Australia Genetically Modifying Pulses

SYDNEY - Jun 14/07 - SNS -- Pulse researchers at the University of Western Australia (UWA) have created a genetically modified lupin lines, but they are unable to field test it because of a moratorium in the state of Western Australia.

According to UWA Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis Director, Professor Craig Atkins, sustaining cereal production through rotating legumes drove the UWA GM lupin breeding program, which commenced in 1992.

"We developed a very successful genetic engineering program for narrow-leafed lupin, including herbicide (Basta) and bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) resistant varieties. Narrow-leafed lupin is Australia's major pulse crop, with around one million hectares planted and more than 90% of that in Western Australia," he said.

"It is the best adapted pulse for deep, coarse-textured, sandy, acid soils in the grainbelt, yielding on average one tonne per hectare and significantly contributing to subsequent wheat, barley and canola crops due to its residual nitrogen and other benefits," Professor Atkins said.

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